The West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority (WMFRA) recognises many people, particularly those from minority communities and women, experience inequality in society and the workplace. It will therefore endeavour to lead by example, taking individual and organisational steps to challenge prejudice and discrimination and, in doing so, actively promote a working environment which is conducive to good working relationships and which is free of fear and intimidation.
This means that the WMFRA will not discriminate on any grounds that cannot be justified, including: disability, employment status, gender, address, marital status or civil partnership, nationality, gender reassignment, age, religion or religious belief, sexual orientation, race, trade union membership, or dependants.
Furthermore, the Authority will ensure that appropriate resources will be allocated to ensure managers and staff are aware of their professional and personal responsibilities to each other and the public they serve.
This policy statement will underpin all decisions taken by the WMFRA and all actions by its employees in all areas of its work, including recruitment, employment and service delivery.
We encourage employees to recognise that equality is not about 'treating everybody the same', but recognising we are all individuals, unique in our own way, equality and fairness is about recognising, accepting and valuing people's unique individuality according to their needs. This often means that individuals may be treated differently, yet fairly, based on their needs.
INTERVIEW GUARANTEE SCHEME FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Disability is defined in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as:
"Anyone who has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on his/her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities."
The West Midlands Fire Service offers a Job Interview Guarantee Scheme to people with disabilities. The purpose of the scheme is to guarantee a job interview to candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria of the post for which they are applying.
The scheme is one of the positive actions the Fire Service is taking to encourage applications from suitably qualified people with disabilities.
If you have a disability, which you feel may disadvantage you in gaining employment, it would be to your benefit to indicate this in the space provided on the front of the application form. It would also be helpful to state whether you require any special arrangements to be made for your interview, for example, if you have restricted mobility, interviews can take place in a ground floor room. People with a hearing or speech impairment may wish to bring an interpreter with them.
The Fire Service is committed to good employment policies and practices for people with disabilities. Any information given regarding a disability will be treated positively.
The West Midlands Fire and Civil Defence Authority is an employer committed to achieving a working environment that actively encourages, promotes and values equality and diversity. To support this aim, we welcome applications from all of the community who share our commitment.
